Guernsey Language Commissioner visits Island

Press release: Guernsey Language Commissioner visits Island

The last few years have seen a growing international awareness of the Isle of Man success story that is the revival of interest in the language. Such international recognition has resulted in a growing number of individuals and delegations visiting the Island from other jurisdiction to find out the key to this success.

The latest visitor, was Deputy Darren Duquemin, member of the States of Guernsey, Chairman of the Guernsey Language Commission  and member of the States of Guernsey’s Culture and Leisure Department. Darren was visiting the Island to meet students, teachers and businesses who have been at the forefront of the revival in Manx Gaelic.

Darren, in his short stay, was able to see a wide range of Manx language events which included  conversational classes at Noa Bakehouse in Douglas,  a lunch-time class at Lloyds togher with visits to the Mooinjer Veggey nursery in Ballalsalla and the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh in St Johns.

Deputy Duquemin commented that, "The Guernsey Language Commission is in its infancy and my visit was an effort to learn from what is widely accepted in the minority language community as the Manx success story. They say imitation is the greatest form of flattery and I can tell you that we will be copying much of what I saw in action in the Isle of Man to ensure that the Guernsey Language Commission is heading in the right direction from the outset."

"I am very grateful to Adrian Cain from Culture Vannin for organising a timetable for my visit and to all of those people who I met, from politicians to teachers to adult learners and school children, that are all so clearly passionate about their island's own language."

"I saw for myself that Manx is a huge part of your island's culture and now, it is up to me and my team to use what I have learned on my trip to ensure that Guernesiais is a huge part of our island's culture too."    

Adrian Cain, the Manx Language Development Officer for Culture Vannin commented, 'that the visit demonstrated just how strong the revival has been here whilst it continues to reflect well on the Isle of Man that we are seen as a pioneer by many other small jurisdictions that have similar issues regards minority languages.'

 

 

 

 

 

Published: Thu, 01 Jan 1970